Ismaila Sarr Crystal palace three words fast becoming synonymous with excitement, pace and purpose. As Eberechi Eze went off to Arsenal in the summer it raised the question how they can replace the creativity and goal seeking ability he has left behind. Probably at least nothing that Eze had scored or assisted on 169 appearances, that memorable 40 goal, 28 assists FA Cup winner at Wembley had not already made him an icon of the club. But here came Senegalese forward Ismaila Sarr and the change has been nothing short of shocking. His mediocrity in wrapping the win over AZ Alkmaar on Thursday in the 3-1 gave Crystal Palace not only their first European home victory but affirmed his increasingly prominent position as the new talisman of the club.
This season Sarr has been on fire, scoring eight goals in 15 games altogether in any competition. A combination of touch speed, movement smarts and impeccable finishing all that has made him indispensable was contained within his performance against AZ Alkmaar. Since the first blast the backline of the Dutch side was tormented by Sarr as the early hits at the post won, by persistent attempts to break through and win a penalty were received, and finally, twice scored a goal to prove the victory. All of these aspects were on display and included his confidence, calmness, and chemistry with forward Jean-Philippe Mateta, giving us an idea of a Palace attack that has developed and changed through the management of Oliver Glasner.
To begin with the presence of Sarr was tonal. In minutes his scalding speed obtained panicked defending at the hands of AZ Alkmaar. Palace had the ideal pass towards the leadership when goalkeeper Rome-Jayden Owusu Oduro trapped him in the box but Mateta missed a penalty which would have been a goal. Yet Sarr’s hunger never waned. He almost scored a few moments later with a thumping head, which pushed him off and then scored with a poke just before halftime. The definition of precision and poise was his second goal, a traditional counterattack finish upon receiving a sharp pass by Mateta.
It was all summed up by former Palace defender Joel Ward on TNT Sports: Sarr is flying. There is so much that he brings to the team and with sufficient space in front of him, there is hardly a defender who can handle him. His coolness this evening was excellent.” Such speed and control has turned Sarr into a nightmare to defenders – and the fans of the Palace have been relieved of the worry that their life would finish without Eze.
Nevertheless, it is not only a matter of personal genius that Sarr has reached the top, but also a testament to the professional flexibility of Glasner. The Austrian manager has developed a framework that now depends on fluidity and transition play that allows Sarr the freedom to wander and utilize space between defenders. Sarr can time his runs, as Mateta tends to play deep to remove the opponents out of position and, therefore, could have become a creator and a finisher. This synergy was identified by Glasner himself, who said Sarr is an important player who opens space to others with his movement and sprinting strength.
The move by Palace to take Sarr out of Marseille in 2024 at a cost of approximately PS12.5 million and which was initially to cover the departure of Michael Olise to Bayern Munich now seems one of the best business moves in the history of the Premier League. What happened to be viewed as a gamble has become a masterstroke. The 27 year old has already contributed four goals in his three previous matches and is already posing to overtake his goals of previous season which was 12 goals in all competitions.
The reason why Glasner has such faith in Sarr is paying off in a handsomely way. The Palace boss declared he was handling expectations very well with him. He reminds me of his finishes with Brighton and Arsenal last season, the same accuracy the same composure. He has tremendous speed and applies it wisely. That makes him unique.” That athleticism and maturity, in fact, is the difference maker in Sarr. He is not merely running fast he is running smart and he frequently determines the rhythm of the interventions of Palace.
Lastly, the triumph on Thursday had a wider meaning besides personal genius. It was the first time Crystal Palace had a victory at home in the UEFA Conference League in its history and it was a landmark event both to the club and its fans. The losses to AEK Larnaca in their last domestic game had placed their campaign in Europe in doubt and the impressive play on AZ Alkmaar confirmed them. The 3-1 victory obtained with the help of vigor, accuracy and associated will, proved Palace as one that could be regarded as the true participants of the tournament.
Glasner was naturally pleased at the time. “It’s a great feeling,” he said. The first one is never the same. The environment was amazing and the squad demonstrated exceptional personality following the final outcome. My hope is that this night will be the first of many similar ones. His optimism is well-founded. The Sarr Mateta rhythm, Palace midfield settling perfectly since Eze left, there is a strong feeling of a growth of pace at Selhurst Park.
The loss of two attacking stars Eze to Arsenal and Olise to Bayern perhaps would have ended the crisis of most clubs. In the case of Crystal Palace, it was an agent of rebirth. And central to this resurgence is Ismaila Sarr who is instigating his allure and most importantly his fearlessness with an angle on what the Palace attack may appear like in the post Eze times.
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